Genesis 16:6

Genesis 16:6

But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

1. “But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do unto her as it pleaseth thee.”

a. Abram was telling Sarai that her slave was under her authority, and to do what she wanted to do.

2. “…And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.”

a. hardly (6031 * anah) to depress, to browbeat, exercise, force, hurt, defile.

b. Ironically the same word is used for “submit” in Genesis 16:9.

c. Within her rights as a mistress, it appears that Sarai exercised the severest treatment she could, and because of that Hagar ran away.

d. I have rarely heard a commentator speak out for Hagar, but really she was a victim in all this because of the social arrangement. She had no choice in the matter. But as we see in the next few verses, God makes a Covenant with her simply on the condition she return to Sarai.